The Rumour Mill...........

Muck and Brass's first entry was back in November of 2006, a little over 4 years ago and, at that time, the focus of commentary was on the complete disregard with which the then Town Council treated the wider community of Somerton.

The story unfolded quite slowly, gaining real momentum in 2008 with the asset swap which resulted in the Town Council selling off (with little fanfare) what was supposed to be the site of the community hall and buying, instead, an unlovely concrete box on the Bancombe Trading Estate. That action, and the resultant hemorrhaging of funds, became the real focus of Muck and Brass and, as a direct consequence, drew criticism, threats and violent action from quarters of the community who clearly had or believed they had a vested interest which M&B seemed to threaten.

Today, Somerton is awash with unsubstantiated rumours of Police action, possibly last week. What is known is that a significant Police presence was observed in the Town Square on Thursday morning, 2nd December. M&B has received unsubstantiated reports that the Police action, which reportedly included arrests, was related to the External Auditor's investigation into the financial affairs of the Town Council, an investigation focussed on the Town Council pre 27th October 2009.

If these rumours prove to be true then M&B hopes that this is, at the least, the end of the beginning. There is a natural temptation to say "I told you so" but these are early days and the Police presence in Somerton may have been for another purpose. Time will tell. Whatever the truth of these rumours, it is to be hoped that the wider community will continue to support their Town Council, a Council which has behaved with remarkable propriety across what, in anyone's judgement, must have been a difficult time.

Till next time, I'm still Niall Connolly